The Rangers on Tuesday released the veteran slugger, who had been playing at Class AAA Round Rock. His final numbers for the minor league club: .259/.328/.370 with three home runs and 13 RBIs in 30 games.

Texas signed the 12-time All-Star on July 3 after he opted out of his contract in Taiwan and expressed a desire to get back to the big leagues. But the team was not convinced he had the bat speed to hit major league pitching anymore and made it clear he was unlikely to be called up.

Ramirez has not played in the majors since a five-game stint with the Rays at the start of the 2011 season.